| Harry Yates | |
| Fullname: | Harry Richard Yates |
| Birth Date: | 14 October 1861 |
| Birth Place: | Walsall, England |
| Position: | Wing-half |
| Years1: | 1883–1885 |
| Clubs1: | Walsall Swifts |
| Years2: | 1885–1890 |
| Clubs2: | Aston Villa |
| Caps2: | 14 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1890 |
| Clubs3: | Birmingham St. George's |
| Years4: | 1890–1898 |
| Clubs4: | Walsall |
| Caps4: | 4 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
Harry Richard Yates (14 October 1861 – 1932) was an English footballer who played in The Football League for Aston Villa and Walsall.[1] [2] [3]
Signed, age 22 for Walsall Swifts in 1883 and stayed for two seasons when he signed for Aston Villa F.C..
He was a member of the FA Cup winning team when Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in 1887
Yates played in the 1888–89 inaugural English Football League season. He made his League debut on 8 September 1888 at Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, then home of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Yates played at Right-Half in a team that drew 1-1. Yates played 13 of the 22 League games. As a wing-half, he played in a midfield that achieved a big win on three occasions. Yates, weighing 14 stone, was known as "Tubby Yates" and played as a defensive wing-half. Yates assisted Aston Villa to finish second in the League.[4] [5]
This season was the last season for Yates at Aston Villa and he made only one First-Team appearance. His last appearance was on 7 December 1890 when Stoke were the visitors. Villa won 6-1 and Yates played at Right-Half.[6]
Yates left Villa in 1890 and moved to Birmingham St George's for a brief stay as by August he signed for Walsall. During the spell 1892 -1898 Walsall had to spells in the Second Division. In 1898-1899 Yates played four times at Centre-Half for Walsall in the Second Division. He retired in May 1898 after a long-term hip injury. Nothing is recorded about what Yates did from 1898 to his death in 1932.[7] [8]
Matthews described Yates as a 14 stone solid defender with immense power. A strong, forceful tackler. [9]
Source:
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Aston Villa | 1888–89 | The Football League | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Aston Villa | 1889–90 | Football League | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |
| Walsall | 1898–99 | Second Division | 4 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | |